Everyone has noticed those unpleasant secretions on the nose or other oily areas of the face — the notorious and persistent blackheads and whiteheads. In English, they are quite directly translated as Blackhead and Whitehead.
These occur mainly due to the overproduction of oil from our sebaceous glands (sebum), which clogs the pores and forms follicular plugs. Once exposed to air, these plugs oxidize and harden, becoming what we commonly see as blackheads and whiteheads — in essence, both are different forms of oil-based impurities in the pores.
A Whitehead (白头) refers to a blocked pore that remains closed at the surface of the skin, often appearing as small white bumps. These are typically found in oil-prone areas such as the nose, forehead, and chin, and are known as Closed comedones (闭合性粉刺) — commonly called “clogged pores” or “clogged bumps”.
On the other hand, a Blackhead (黑头) is essentially a whitehead that has been exposed to air, causing the oil and keratin inside to oxidize and turn black. This makes it an Open comedone (开放性粉刺). Blackheads are most commonly found on and around the nose. There are several types, including:
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Real blackheads (真性黑头)
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Vellus hair-type blackheads (毳毛型黑头)
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Sebum filament-type blackheads (脂丝型黑头)
Whiteheads often contain a yellowish-white, tofu-like substance that can be extracted. Blackheads, however, form from oxidized surface oil plugs. If left untreated, the accumulation of sebum will enlarge both the blackheads and the pores. Eventually, this buildup can lead to inflammation, forming papules (丘疹) and potentially developing into pimples (痘痘) or acne (痤疮).
In cosmetic dermatology (医美皮肤美容), there are various treatments aimed at improving blackheads and whiteheads. These generally focus on deep cleansing (深层清洁) and oil-control exfoliation (控油去角质).
At Ai Beauty Clinic in London, we use the Milk Peel developed by French dermocosmetic brand Dermaceutic — a gentle acid peel that effectively removes dead skin cells and regulates sebum production. Combined with the HydraFacial high-end skincare (海菲秀三部曲), which deeply cleanses the pores and nourishes the skin, this treatment is even suitable for sensitive skin (敏感肌).
Together, these two non-invasive methods — known as non-invasive skin management (非侵入式皮肤管理) — treat both symptoms and root causes, making them a popular and safe choice for many.